New Year's Day heralds baby boom

Proud parents Aroha Condon and Brett Fraser introduce the
newest member of their family, Tyrell Fraser, to his big
brother Tremaine and big sister Atiya. Photo by Jane
Dawber.

Dunedin's population has received an early boost for 2013
thanks to the arrival of five babies in the first few hours of
New Year's Day.

The first, Tyrell Fraser, was born at Dunedin Hospital at
12.16am yesterday - 11 days later than expected - weighing in
at a healthy 4.05kg.

Proud mother Aroha Condon (30) said she had been ''trying my
best'' to make it to midnight to deliver New Zealand's first
baby for 2013.

She was not sure if she had been pipped by other new arrivals
around the country yesterday, but thought her son would
appreciate her efforts anyway.

''It will be cool for him when he gets older,'' she said.

Her partner, Brett Fraser (29), said the new arrival meant
New Year's Eve was ''one I will remember''.

The couple - who are engaged - spent yesterday introducing
Tyrell to his big sister, Atiya (9), and brother Tremaine
(2), and hoped to go home later in the day.

Tyrell was one of five babies born at Dunedin Hospital on New
Year's Day. He was followed by a girl at 3.48am, another boy
at 5.07am, a girl at 7.01am and a boy at 9.59am, duty
co-ordinator Trish Walton said.

She could not explain the sudden rush, saying so many New
Year's Day babies was ''unusual''.

''Usually we don't have that many,'' she said.

Dunedin was not alone, however, with three babies arriving in
a rush on New Year's Day at Southland Hospital in
Invercargill - two girls, at 4.07am and 6.37am respectively,
and a boy at 12.49pm, staff said.

Queenstown's Lakes District Hospital, Balclutha's Clutha
Health First and Oamaru Hospital all missed out on New Year's
Day babies.

Staff at Alexandra's private provider, the Charlotte Jean
Maternity Hospital, reported the arrival of one baby, but
said they could not disclose details.

However, independent midwife Vicki McMillan, of Alexandra,
said she delivered a baby girl in a home birth in Cromwell at
4.40am yesterday.